Chapter 27

Neville and Draco did not stay in France long. In fact, that evening, they apparated back to Grimmauld place to give their report. They had hoped by taking Neville's parents from St. Mungo's that they would have removed the hospital from the Dark Lord's radar. For now, their plan succeeded. Draco was nervous when he returned, but not because of what had transpired in France. He was nervous about approaching Severus about his decision. His eyes met Neville's before he sent, "Don't talk about what happened in France please."

Neville didn't respond but gave a small nod to indicate that he understood. Mad-Eye was furious with for not telling them that the situation was under control. They were on their way to storm St. Mungo's when they got their message. Draco suddenly remembered, "We saw Nott."

"What?" Severus and Mad-Eye answered at ones. Severus went first, "I thought that Marcus told us that he was dead."

"Go ask him." Mad-Eye told Draco. Neville followed his new companion up to Marcus's room. Giving him respect, Draco knocked on the door. They heard some shuffling and a belt buckle. Neville and Draco looked at each other with a knowing smile on their faces. They knocked again.

"One second," He called out. Neville wanted to laugh, but Draco stopped him with a look. Marcus opened the door to allow his rescuers in, "What's wrong? How did everything go in the hospital?"

It was late in the evening and the bed was ruffled, but he covers were still drawn. Marcus saw where their eyes went and blushed bright red before straightening everything. Neville went first, "We saw Nott in the hospital."

"He's alive? That's not possible." Marcus said, "I saw him on the ground bleeding. There's no way anyone could have survived a wound like that."

"Was he alone?" Draco asked. He remembered an incident in their six year when Harry sliced open Draco's chest with a spell from Severus's old potions book, "That happened to me before. Severus healed me instantly."

Neville's eyes widened again, but a look from Draco told him not to ask about it. He didn't want to ruin Neville's image of Harry. Harry was also Draco's friend now, and it wouldn't do anyone good to remember memories like that from school. Draco, himself, wasn't exactly a saint either. He remembered that it was his fault that Severus had to kill Dumbledore. Marcus wrapped his arms around his torso when he spoke, "He was left alone because I was captured in that same incident."

"We won't know what's going on until we talk to him." Draco said.

"I also heard them use the killing spell after I was dragged away and…"Marcus turned away to hide the shame on his face.

"Hey…." Draco started, "You're safe, and that's what matters, Cap"

"I haven't been your captain for a long time." Marcus smiled.

"That doesn't change the fact that we saw him in the hospital," Neville answered, "You don't suppose he was playing two sides of the coin, do you?"

"I don't know, honestly." Marcus answered, "It's possible I suppose. We won't really know until we speak to him."

"You want to go?" Draco asked, "You don't have to. Actually, we don't even know where he went. He disappeared shortly after he left St. Mungo's."

"He will most likely be there during the next attack." Neville said in a tone that suggested their best option in that moment was to wait. Draco waited until they left Marcus's room. He thought about Neville's parents living in the hospital all this time. He opened his mouth and the closed it when he got nervous again. Neville noticed though, "What?"

"Come in here" Draco grabbed Neville by the arm and pulled him into an empty room, "Don't look at me like that. This is not what you think. I just wanted to ask you."

"You could have used Occlumency." Neville said.

"No, I want to talk to you in person because I think its silly that we can't talk in person, but we can talk with our thoughts." Draco answered firmly.

Neville sighed, "Alright, what is it? I have no interest in being a replacement for Ron."

"I wasn't even thinking that." Draco responded.

"You brought it up first." Neville answered, "I've opened up to you a little, but I don't want you to get any ideas."

"Any ideas? Ron has barely passed, and what he was is irrelevant to what I was going to ask. " Draco asked, "I honestly have no idea what you're talking about. Furthermore, you are you and Ron is Ron. So don't compare yourself to someone else."

Neville blushed a little at the comment. He quickly changed the subject, "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Draco silenced the room with a spell to avoid eavesdroppers, "Have your parents been in St. Mungo's this entire time?"

"Yes," Neville turned his head away, "I don't really want to talk about it."

"Why not? Your parents are heroes. They stood up to my aunt and survived. My relatives are horrible at best, and they've hurt a lot of people. It made me sick to know it was she who hurt your family to this extent." Draco looked down, his hands were in fists as he spoke.

"Don't worry about it. You said it before, you are you regardless of who your family is or has done. I'm not angry with you because someone is related to you. Your other Aunt Andromeda has been fantastic." Neville pointed out.

"Thanks, but I was going to say. After all of this is over, you don't have to bring them back. They can stay in France, it's a beautiful place. You can or I can hire a healer to watch over them. They would have a much better life." Draco offered.

Neville's eyes widened. This was Draco Malfoy, his enemy from school. He had stolen his Remembrall during their first year. He called him horrible names, and now he wanted to help Neville in a way that he could never repay, "I don't think I ca…"
"Don't answer now, let's win the war first. I know its sudden, but I won't change my mind. You and I are friends."

Draco walked out of the room leaving Neville stunned. He had gone on the first mission hating it. He wanted nothing to do with Draco, and he was right. It was because Draco was related to Bellatrix and still considered her family. I guess he wasn't wrong. Bellatrix had nothing to do with Draco. He spent so long protecting his family by keeping their existence a secret, but he evens surprised himself when he revealed his parents to Draco. It seems so surreal, that they were now living in Draco's villa in France. It really was a beautiful home, and Draco offered it to be his parents' home. Neville stood there staring at the empty doorway where Draco was standing a few minutes ago, but reality was sometimes colder than ice. It was probably just Draco's personality. He could see Ron's influence in him. Why did Ron have to die? Neville walked out and followed an unfamiliar sound.

Neville walked past Draco's room, and that was when he heard it. The sobbing, of course Draco was missing Ron. This was the first time that they had talked about him since his passing. He wasn't sure what he should do. Was Draco the type of person who needed to be alone to sort out his feelings or was he the type that needed someone but was afraid to ask. That day when they returned, Neville was shocked at himself when he held Draco. If only they he could have stopped Draco from storming the prison that day. Ron would have been horribly violated, but he might have been alive. Neville was a Gryffindor, why was he so hesitant? He should be bold and brave.

Neville opened Draco's door and saw what he had expected to see. Draco's face was buried into a pillow on the bed, "Hey…"

Draco froze, "Don't look at my face, please."

"I can't" Neville said honestly. He walked over to sit on the bed, "Talk to me. I'll listen."

Draco sat up, and spoke honestly, "I don't want to talk about Ron. I'd like to keep those memories private to me, and I'm not going to be dishonest by denying that we have become friends recently. I don't want to compare your friendship to his. Because our friendship is different from his. I always felt like he was there to protect me, and even when he died. He died protecting me."

"It hurts like hell that he isn't here. You have the ability to protect people, I think the past few times, it has been you who has protected me." Neville said honestly, "Who knows what we will be like in the future. I don't think that having another person care about you is such a bad thing." Neville leaned over and gave Draco a peck on the lips before walking out of the room.

The last thought that Draco had in his head was, "Its too soon." But a smile crept up on his face before he fell asleep, "or is it?"